Rating: 
Summary: Too many close calls
Review: I am a big fan of Michael Crichton and enjoyed "Timeline" immensely. However I thought there were too many Indiana Jones type moments in the book. No matter what situation the characters found themselves in, you always knew they would escape virtually unharmed. Some of the situations seemed contrived just to fill out the book. The ending seemed somewhat abrupt, with no explanation for what happened to a certain character. Overall, a good book but not up to the usual Crichton thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: One star is too many
Review: This book is a total waste. Starts with a great premise. Ends up as a cartoon. People almost get killed but never do.Repeatedly. The book just turns into a pointless chase, with an artificial time limitation to move it along. Save your money.Save your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Crichton Classic
Review: I recieved the hardcover of Timeline for Christmas. Like Crichton's other books, Timeline is an exciting read that doesn't dissappoint. Until Timeline, the only way I had witnessed the idea of time travel used was in a comical or unbelieveable setting. This is the first book I have ever read that actually made me think that time travel is a real possibility. Many writers would be biting off more than they could chew with the ideas and theories in Timeline, but, as usual, Crichton pulls it off with ease. The characters are deep and engaging. If you like Michael Crichton's earlier works, you'll like Timeline too. If you haven't read Crichton yet, then start with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: TimeLine
Review: This book reads more like a screen play then a novel. The characters are shallow and under developed. Our heroes are constantly put into dire situations only to be saved at the last moment by some fantastic turn of events. The characters from the past are stereotypical Hollywood types, either slobbering oafs or twisted mad men. I personally think the movie will be better then the book in this case.Paul
Rating:
Summary: Timeline - a book that will only make you wonder
Review: I have read some of his prior books, and I would have to say that I enjoyed this one the most. Although the first 50-60 pages are a little slow, the action picks up and is one that you won't want to put down. Crichton's story is so detailed that you can only appreciate the research that he did for this book. The idea of time travel is so intriguing, and this book throws an interesting twist to the subject. If you like Crighton books or books about the middle ages, this is one book that you should give a chance
Rating: 
Summary: Great!
Review: Crichton is amazing: he can take subjects I could never think I would find slightly interesting and make them incredible page turners: never thought I would care about dinosaurs running around, female on male discrimination, airplane safety and 60 minute-production lifestyles, etc; moreover, you feel like you learn something from fiction. This book is a fine addition to the Crichton world. Mixing time-travel with 14th century France is so much more enjoyable than I could have ever believed. I would have given it four and a half stars if possible.
Rating:
Summary: Read like a great movie
Review: While some of Crichton's works can be dry and too technical Timeline delivered a great read - back to the Jurassic Park style. Really worth the read with a great ending.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Crichton
Review: I just finished reading Timeline. Not since Jurassic Park has Crichton written such an engaging masterpiece. Now, it may be because I'm a physics major and have had an insatiable thirst for medieval stories since I was a kid, but this book had me up until 2:30 in the morning. Crichton is at his best with this suspenseful and vivid novel. Timeline is unquestionably one of, if not THE best book he's written.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Crichton
Review: I just finished reading this book. Not since Jurassic Park has Crichton written such an engaging masterpiece. Now, it could be because I'm a physics major and have had an unsatiable thirst for medieval stories since I was a kid, but this book kept me up until 2:30 in the morning reading it, and I couldn't put it down. Crichton uses vivid details and masterful storytelling to present the reader with such a suspenseful and realistic story. Definitely one of his best works.
Rating:
Summary: a sloppy Jurassic Park retread -- wait for the paperback!
Review: This is the kind of book that I find myself reading despite myself. It's not very well written, but just entertaining enough to keep one involved. Crichton did it much better in Jurassic Park: Timeline is little more than a rewrite of Jurassic Park with castles instead of the theme park and vicious knights in armor instead of vicious dinosaurs. Unlike Jurassic Park, Timeline is not very well written and frequently absurdly implausible. Having spent my career in Silicon Valley, it's painfully obvious to me that Crichton hasn't the faintest clue of what high technology companies are like, and his plot contortions to set the scene reminded me of a bad high school creative writing assignment. The frequent injections of grotesque violence are clearly written with a future film version in mind: they provide little impact on the written page and add little to the story.
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